Tilly and Seaworld

[KBF]

I have seen alot of doubt on the internet and sometimes on this board regarding Tilly and him interacting with trainers and being in the same tank as other whales. Alot of critics against Seaworld say that hes all alone and doesn't spend time with any of the other whales and never interacts with trainers and is always stuck in the small back pool and never in the large front show pool. However this is completely false. In a recent visit to Shamu stadium, the Associated press got a first hand look at a training session involving Tilly and another whale, Trua. Here is the recent article about Trainers possibly getting in the water, and pictures to prove once and for all that people who are against Seaworld are full of lies. To View the pictures, scroll down to the picture of the head animal trainer and then click "click for more photos". Some more photos will come up and you can click on each one to view. They will appear where the head animal trainers picture was. These photos show Tilly in his training session. These were taken March 7th 2011. To further prove these are recent photos, you can see the new set for the new Shamu show, "One Ocean." This set is currently being built.

http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/14/2309058/seaworld-trainers-may-go-back.html

 

[mom of2]

THANK YOU!!! I love Sea World and if my husband is lucky enough to get transferred to FL my first purchase will be an AP.
After reading the article and looking at the pics and being there over thanksgiving I have a question. I don't know exactly where the accident occurred, but I don't understand how they are ok with the trainers being within reach of the whales if that was how the accident happened but yet they can't be in the water? Does that make sense? I personally don't think that the trainers should have been kicked out of the water. It was a freak thing and I hope they get back in soon
Thanks

 

[KBF]

THANK YOU!!! I love Sea World and if my husband is lucky enough to get transferred to FL my first purchase will be an AP.
After reading the article and looking at the pics and being there over thanksgiving I have a question. I don't know exactly where the accident occurred, but I don't understand how they are ok with the trainers being within reach of the whales if that was how the accident happened but yet they can't be in the water? Does that make sense? I personally don't think that the trainers should have been kicked out of the water. It was a freak thing and I hope they get back in soon
Thanks

The accident occurred February 2010. Its important for trainers to keep that close bond and relationship with the whales and keep things as close to the way it was supposed to be before the accident. That involves interacting with the whales by rubbing and hugging them, and feeding them close up. Sometimes, the trainers put a bar in place across the stage or slideout area to have a separation of them and the whale, sometimes, they didn't. I think there is more of a chance of something happening if the trainers are in the water than there is with the trainers out. All the whales except Tilly have done waterwork in the past and I think thats another reason why the trainers are allowed to rub and be within arms reach, because if the trainer were to fall in, the whale would be used to that situation because the trainers swam with those particular whales before.

If you noticed in the photos, the trainers were interacting with Tilly behind the glass, instead of on stage. Because Tilly has never done waterwork with the trainers, if one were to fall in with him again, we unfortunately may see the same result as last February. I think when Tilly returns to shows, this is how he will get trainer signals, from behind the glass rather than at stage like he did in the past. Now just because Tilly is getting signals from the glass doesn't mean he doesn't get love from the trainers. I have seen the trainers rub him with long brushes. And hose him down. These are used in replacement of a trainer touching him. OSHA is not permitting the trainers to touch Tilly with their hands at this time.

 

[RabFlmom]

Thanks for posting the pics. I got some really good pics when I was there in Dec. too. I never know which whaler is which though.

We were on a mission to get pics with "Flat Stanley" for my nieces classroom.
Going to post my first pic so sorry if it doesn't work. The second I put Flat Stanley on the window the whale came over to investigate.

Hmmm guess I am not allowed to post pictures?

 

[KBF]

Thanks for posting the pics. I got some really good pics when I was there in Dec. too. I never know which whaler is which though.

We were on a mission to get pics with "Flat Stanley" for my nieces classroom.
Going to post my first pic so sorry if it doesn't work. The second I put Flat Stanley on the window the whale came over to investigate.

Hmmm guess I am not allowed to post pictures?

The easiest way to post pictures is to get a photobucket account and post the url that photobucket gives you onto this board.

 

[julieannbabe]

i hope that you are right KBF.

if assocated press got pictures then that means they had arranged the session with SW beforehand.
i hope that this wasn't a one off - tilly and the trainers together - just for the benefit for the press.

 

[livndisney]

i hope that you are right KBF.

if assocated press got pictures then that means they had arranged the session with SW beforehand.
i hope that this wasn't a one off - tilly and the trainers together - just for the benefit for the press.

No. Both the trainers and SW want to work with Tilly, training him is part of the process.

I am not with the press and I don't work for SW, I have seen the trainers working with Tilly.

SW is not going to "stage" this just for the press.

 

[Tillikumtrainer]

From my buddy that works in SWF in Animal care he told me the Big guy should be returning to shows in 2- 21/2weeks or so but he will be working with trua and i believe a few of the other orcas since they are working on group behaviors for "One Ocean". Im super excited for April 22nd.

 

[tarrbear]

From my buddy that works in SWF in Animal care he told me the Big guy should be returning to shows in 2- 21/2weeks or so but he will be working with trua and i believe a few of the other orcas since they are working on group behaviors for "One Ocean". Im super excited for April 22nd.

Is April 22nd when it opens? Cause that would be great! Our Sea World/ Busch passes expire April 24th and I don't think we will be renewing our pass for Sea World, just Busch. And I would like to see One Ocean.

 

[KBF]

From my buddy that works in SWF in Animal care he told me the Big guy should be returning to shows in 2- 21/2weeks or so but he will be working with trua and i believe a few of the other orcas since they are working on group behaviors for "One Ocean". Im super excited for April 22nd.

Where is everybody getting this "Opening April 22nd" thought? I have seen that date posted by people on facebook and on here. But its not confirmed yet.